Source: CLARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN PRESS (Neillsville, Wis.) 07/07/1887

Withee, Niram Haskall (21 JUN 1827 - 1 JUL 1887)

Hon. Niram Haskall Withee died at La Crosse Saturday, July 1st, 1887, about 12 o'clock a.m. He had been ill at that place for several weeks, but it was not expected his disease would so quickly prove fatal. His brother Levi, who watched with him on Tuesday night, said that it would be some time before he would be up, and then it was intended to take him to the seashore. It was a great surprise to our people to learn Saturday afternoon of his death.

Mr. Withee was born at Norridgewock, Somerset County, Maine, June 21, 1827. He removed to Wisconsin in 1852 and located at North La Crosse, and in 1870 came to Clark County. He was president of North La Crosse in 1868 a member of the county board of supervisors in Clark County several years county treasurer in 1875, '76, '77 and '78 and represented the counties of Clark, Lincoln, Taylor and Wood in the Assembly in 1879 and 1880.

Mr. Withee has been a prominent logger and lumberman at La Crosse and on Black River since about 1857, and at his decease was one of the wealthiest lumbermen and land owners in this part of the state. He was one of the principal stockholders in the Island Mill Lumber Co., organized in 1882. He had a residence and farm in the town of Hixon, but spent part of his time in La Crosse, where he also owned a home.

In company with James Hewett, F. D. Lindsay, Daniel and James Gates, Geo. L. Lloyd and others, he organized the Black river R.R. Co. and built the line from Merrillan to Neillsville.

He built a few years ago a gristmill at Hemlock on Black River. Last year he purchased from W. H. Mead 8,000 acres of land, and owned altogether in Clark County, about 23,000 acres.

Mr. Withee was a cautious, prudent, far-sighted business man. His success has proved the soundness of his judgment. His reputation for honesty and integrity was excellent. His character was pure. His word might always be implicitly relied on. His death will be a great loss to Clark County, especially to the northern portion where his business was conducted. He leaves a wife and three children. His oldest son is about nineteen years of age. Hiram N. With, our present county treasurer, and Levi Withee, of La Crosse are brothers of deceased, and Mrs. Varney, of Warner, Clark County, is his sister. The funeral will occur tomorrow in La Crosse.